UPDATE: Police Identify Woman Killed In Fatal CR39 Accident

Southampton Town Police identified the driver and attendant of the Hampton Jitney bus involved in a fatal head-on crash with an SUV Thursday morning on County Road 39 in Tuckahoe.

The attendant is Shimona Kameka, 36, of Southampton and the driver is George Scheld, 54, of Nesconset, according to a press release issued Thursday evening. Both were taken to Southampton Hospital to be treated for non-life threatening injuries.

Police identified the driver of the 2004 Chevrolet Trailblazer who died in the collision as 29-year-old Carissa Castillo of Shirley on Thursday afternoon.

Normal rush hour traffic in the East End was exacerbated because of a collision in Tuckahoe between a Hampton Jitney bus and an SUV at about 7 a.m. Drivers are encouraged to stay off the roads if possible to allow the build up of cars to clear out.

Traffic on the thoroughfare was shutdown complete until about 1 p.m. between Tuckahoe Road and Tuckahoe Lane when a single eastbound lane was opened. All four lanes were gradually opened at about 4 p.m.

A Southampton Town Police dispatcher said one minor accident occurred on St. Andrews Road near the spot of the previous accident, but did not impede traffic.

The dispatcher added that almost all the roads surrounding County Road 39—including Montauk Highway and Sebonac Road where traffic was diverted after Thursday morning’s crash—were jammed up with cars.

Southampton Town Director of Public Transportation and Traffic Safety Thomas Neely said he received many phone calls and emails throughout the day from people inquiring about the status of the roads.

Mr. Neely said the road closure, which spanned about nine hours, was necessary so the Suffolk County Medical Examiner could declare the driver of the SUV—29-year-old Carissa Castillo of Shirley—dead at the scene and so authorities could clear the road.

“Unfortunately it’s a great inconvenience to a great many people,” he said.

Mr. Neely said there was no way of telling when the dense traffic might break, but he expects it to be a gradual process spanning the next few hours.

UPDATE: Thursday, 3:55 p.m.

All four traffic lanes of County Road 39 in Tuckahoe have reopened after a fatal car crash occurred there Thursday morning, according to Southampton Town Police. Residual delays are expected while traffic clears out.

UPDATE: Thursday, 2:45 p.m.

Police have identified the driver of the SUV who died after being involved in a head-on collision with a Hampton Jitney bus Thursday morning on County Road 39 as 29-year-old Carissa Castillo of Shirley.

The mother of two was driving eastbound on the highway at about 7 a.m. when she crossed the double yellow lines and crashed into the westbound bus, Southampton Town Police Detective Sergeant Lisa Costa said.

The bus driver and attendant were taken to Southampton Hospital to be treated for what Sgt. Costa classified as non-life threatening injuries.

Eastbound traffic was opened up at about 1 p.m., Sgt. Costa said, and as of 2:45 p.m. authorities were still trying to clear the road for westbound traffic, which had been rerouted to Sebonac Road. She said the road should be open within the hour.

UPDATE: Thursday, 1:30 p.m.

Eastbound traffic on County Road 39 has partially reopened after a fatal car crash brought traffic to a halt for more than six hours on Thursday.

One lane of traffic was reopened as of 1:30 p.m. and the Southampton Town Police said authorities still are working on opening westbound traffic on the highway but no timetable has been set.

UPDATE: Thursday, 11:15 a.m.

Southampton Town Police Detective Sergeant Lisa Costa confirmed from the scene that one person died in the Thursday morning accident between a Hampton Jitney bus and an SUV.

Marsha Kenny, director of public relations and marketing for the Southampton Hospital, confirmed that two people are being treated for injuries related to the accident.

Southampton Volunteer Ambulance Chief Donna Kreymborg said two individuals were transported to the hospital with minor injuries, one by an ambulance from her agency and one in a Southampton Village Volunteer ambulance.

Aerial footage of the accident shows that the bus involved was a Hampton Ambassador bus, a luxury line operated by the Hampton Jitney.

ORIGINAL STORY

County Road 39 in Southampton remained closed to traffic in both directions as of 10:30 a.m. Thursday following a fatal accident involving what appears to be a small SUV and a Hampton Jitney bus that occurred at around 7 a.m. this morning in Tuckahoe.

According to a Southampton Volunteer Fire Department official, the small SUV was heading eastbound and veered into the westbound lane and was struck head-on by the Jitney bus, which was heading west. The accident occurred near St. Andrews Road, and the highway remains closed between Tuckahoe Lane and Tuckahoe Road.

The sole occupant of the SUV, a woman, was pronounced dead at the scene and as of this morning was still entrapped in the vehicle, which was nearly unrecognizable, according to the same fire official.

Southampton Town Police would not immediately confirm if the woman died in the crash or how many people were injured in the accident.

Hampton Jitney Vice President Andrew Lynch confirmed Thursday morning that involved bus belongs to his company, but said no passengers were on board at the time of the crash. He said only a driver and attendant were aboard at the time; he did not know the severity of their injuries.

“Our driver and attendant were taken to [Southampton] Hospital and the local authorities are currently investigating,” Mr. Lynch said.

The highway remains closed between Tuckahoe Lane and Tuckahoe Road, creating massive traffic tie-ups in both directions. Eastbound traffic is being rerouted to Montauk Highway while westbound traffic is being directed to Sebonac Road.